Final answer:
Charcoal is the powder composed of black carbon or charcoal used for art on light-colored surfaces. It has been used since prehistoric times and comes in different forms like vine and compressed charcoal, enabling a range of artistic effects.
Step-by-step explanation:
The powder composed of black carbon or charcoal and applied to white or light-colored surfaces is typically used as a pigment in drawing and painting. This substance, known as charcoal, has been a fundamental medium in art since prehistoric times. Charcoal is created by charring wooden sticks or branches, a process that can yield different types such as vine charcoal and compressed charcoal. Vine charcoal is available in varying densities from soft to hard, allowing for a range of effects in artwork. Compressed charcoal provides even deeper blacks and is excellent for creating rich, velvety blacks in charcoal drawings. Notably, renowned artist Georgia O'Keeffe utilized charcoal to produce works with a range of values from light grays to deep, velvety blacks.